. >> the attacks on the civilians in benghazi were attacks on america. there should be no doubt that we will be relentless in tracking down the killers and bringing them to justice. >> reporter: his most expansive comments on what he called the crisis in the middle east. he invoked the memory of one fallen american. >> we must reaffirm that our future will be determined by people like chris stevens and not by his killers. today we must declare that this violence and intolerance has no place among our united nations. >> reporter: to the world he offered a lesson in u.s. values. first, denouncing the insighting video. >> a crude and disgusting video sparked outrage throughout the muslim world. >> reporter: next, affirming america's embrace of all religions. >> we not only respect the freedom of religion, we have laws that protect individuals from being harmed because of how they look or what they believe. >> reporter: then a lesson in tolerance and the freedom of expressi expression. >> like me, the majority of americans are christian and we do not ban bla